Refurbishment

In 2004 a faculty was obtained to re-order the upstairs worship space

and to create a social space to replace the facilities that had existed in
Northdale Hall. In addition to the hall / meeting area a kitchen and
modern toilet block were created. The Upper Vestry was reduced in size
to allow for the creation of a small flower preparation room with storage
space for cleaning and gardening equipment.
The fixed font was removed and the former Baptistry is now used as an
area for quiet prayer and reflection.
The worship area was opened up by the removal of the choir stalls and
the Lady Chapel with full DAC approval. A sound system and induction
loop were installed to facilitate access to the hard of hearing and the
organ and its speakers were relocated.
The worship and social areas were redecorated and carpeted
throughout.
Externally a ramp was fitted to the entrance in South Drive and this has
become the main access to St Mary’s.
Our present Rector is the 21st in the Parish since its creation; a THE PARISH CHURCH OF
complete list is given below. ST MARY THE VIRGIN WAVERTREE
1855. The Reverend S.Fenton. From A Short History by the late Dr R.M. Todd
1880. The Reverend Edward Snowdon Smith. Reader at St Mary’s 1948 – 2008
1886. The Reverend Charles William Ridley.
1890. The Reverend John Harrison. Beginnings
1904. The Reverend Herbert Whateley.
1916. The Reverend A. B. Thornhill. Towards the middle of the 19th century the population of the Township
1919. The Reverend T. S. Stoney. of Wavertree had very much increased and the existing places of
1929. The Reverend R. A. Marsh. worship were insufficient to accommodate the inhabitants at Divine
1938. The Reverend F. Taylor. Service. To meet this need it was agreed to build a church dedicated to
1946. The Reverend F. H. Marshall. St Mary, on a site in Sandown Park given by Mr Hugh Hornby of
1949. The Reverend A. H. Mock. Sandown Hall. (The Hornby family was the same as gave their name to
1952. The Reverend C. P. K. Barnes. the famous Hornby Dublo trains of yesteryear.)
1957. The Reverend John Mills. In 1852, although only partially completed, the church was licensed for
1963. The Reverend Arthur May. public worship and the Rev. Samuel Fenton, M.A., was appointed
1969. The Reverend David Edward Webster. incumbent.
1976. The Reverend John Anders. The church at this time was a mission church in the parish of Childwall.
1981. The Reverend Alan Bell. After a delay of some three years John, Lord Bishop of Chester,
1989. The Reverend Canon Richard (Dick) Williams. consecrated the church on Monday 7th May 1855.
1997. The Reverend Joan Muriel Matthews.
2008. The Reverend Canon Malcolm Chamberlain On 30th January 1856 Queen Victoria made an Order in Council
2014 The Reverend June Asquith assigning a District Chapelry to the church and lay down the parish
boundaries.
Developments
By 1862 the need arose for a larger building and a faculty was obtained
for enlarging the church by the addition of a chancel, north aisle and
organ chamber. During 1865 this work was completed and a heating
system was installed.
The original design for the church had included a west tower with spire
and in 1882 this was created. The Rt. Rev. J.C. Ryle, first Bishop of
Liverpool, laid the foundation stone of the tower on 5th June 1882. (This
stone is set into the east wall of the present church.)
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the consecration of the church
in 1925 electric light was installed.
Disaster
On the night of 28th November 1940, the church received a direct hit
from a German bomb. The organ was completely destroyed and the east
end of the church was badly damaged. The nave suffered little damage
and on a few special occasions services were held in the bombed
church; but such was the damage done by the weather, and destruction
by vandals, that it was eventually decided to demolish the building.
Sandown College was built on the site. The college and land were sold
for housing development and the area is now known as Bonchurch
Drive.
Survival
The upper floor in the church hall in nearby Northdale Road was fitted
out as a temporary church and was used for Divine Services for 12
years from December 1940 to December 1952.
Redevelopment
In 1949 the Church Council agreed to purchase the Methodist church
(built in 1872) in Victoria Park and convert it into the Parish Church of
St Mary, Wavertree.
Very extensive alterations were carried out; all interior fixtures,
including gallery and vestibule, were removed and two entrances closed.
The old sanctuary became the baptistery and the east of the church
constructed at what used to be the back of the building. Choir and
clergy vestries were entirely rebuilt, modern sanitation incorporated and
a new heating system was installed. The church was furnished with oak
fittings, left in natural colour.
The Consecration
Clifford Arthur Martin, the Lord Bishop of Liverpool, consecrated the
church on Saturday 6th December 1952 at an impressive service
attended by a large congregation, including the Lord Mayor and Lady
Mayoress of Liverpool, Mr John Tilney, M.P. for Wavertree, and many
other prominent people.
The magnificent East Window for the church was designed by Mr E.
Carter-Preston, some of whose windows are in Liverpool Cathedral. It
was dedicated by the Bishop of Warrington, the Rt. Rev. C.R. Claxton,
on Sunday July 18th 1954 during the service of Evensong.
The Church Hall
With an increase in the population of the parish at the beginning of last
century, the need for a Church Hall, for use as a Sunday School and for
young people’s organisations, had become a pressing matter.
In 1907 a piece of land in Northdale Road was purchased and the
foundation stone was laid by the Lord Bishop of Liverpool on 11th June
1910.
It was of particular importance during the war when it was fitted out as
a temporary church and was used for Divine Services from 1940 –
1952.
Repairs and renovations were carried out over the years but after much
deliberation and discussion it was decided that the Hall was a greater
liability than an asset. It was sold and some of the money used for
refitting and refurbishing the church.
The building has since been used as a nursery.
The Day School
Records show that St Mary’s School was in operation as far back as
1863. Links with the Church were strong and attendance at Church and
Sunday School were compulsory.
Due to increasing numbers a new school was built in Rathbone Road
and opened on 28th October 1872. By 1891 an additional building was
added to create an Infants Department.
After the Second World War and the new Education Act, the local
Education Authority took over all financial responsibility for the school.
In 1954 the school was reorganised as a Junior School; children aged 11
and over transferred to Olive Mount Secondary Modern School.
Changes to education and funding of schools, as well as falling numbers
finally led to the school closing in 1991. The site of the day school was
sold and some of the monies raised went to fund refitting and
refurbishing the Church building.